Kfar Aza Hostages Aviva and Keith Siegel Relive 484 Days of Captivity
Aviva and Keith Siegel share their harrowing 51 and 484-day captivity ordeals in Gaza following the October 7 attacks, detailing resilience, survival, and reunion.
Aviva and Keith Siegel spent four hours in the safe room of their home in Kfar Aza on October 7, 2023, before being abducted into the Gaza Strip. In a special interview, the couple recounts the harrowing months of captivity, the underground tunnels, injuries, hunger, and their eventual release on two entirely different dates.
"I will never forget the moment I told Keith: they are shooting at us," Aviva recalls. "You do not know if you will make it out alive. Keith and I held hands, gripping each other and looking into one another's eyes as our bodies trembled." Shortly after, terrorists breached the safe room.
Captivity and Survival in Gaza
During the abduction, Keith sustained a gunshot wound to his hand and broken ribs, while Aviva was injured in her knee. Upon arrival in Gaza, they were immediately taken underground. Aviva remembers the terrifying descent down a ladder into the tunnel, surrounded by armed captors and meeting other hostages from Kfar Aza, including Gali Berman and members of the Goldstein family.
More than a year passed before Keith was finally released, having spent a total of 484 days in captivity, including several months completely alone. Aviva had been released after 51 days and immediately launched a relentless global campaign to secure her husband's freedom, meeting with world leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden.
"We were there for each other. We helped one another, and they helped me. That is primarily what gave us strength," Aviva says.
The Long Road Home
Keith was released after 484 days, enduring intense isolation during his final months in captivity. Upon returning to Israel and reuniting with Aviva and their son Shay, the couple began the difficult process of physical and psychological rehabilitation.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Keith notes that his priorities have fundamentally shifted. "I appreciate so many things I did not appreciate enough before—the importance and meaning of family, friends, people, and community," he says. Aviva echoes this sentiment, praising the resilience and unity of the Israeli public throughout their grueling ordeal.
